Tonino Picula, Croatian member of the European Parliament and coordinator for foreign policy of the Socialists and Democrats group, permanent rapporteur of the EP for relations between the EU and the USA and for relations with Montenegro, President of the working group for the Western Balkans, President of the Intergroup for the seas, rivers, islands and coastal areas (SEARICA), and a member of INGE 2, the Special Committee for external interference in all democratic processes in the EU, was on the prestigious EU Matrix list for 2023 as one of the most influential representatives.
Picula is 69th on the list of the hundred most influential representatives out of a total of 705 representatives in the European Parliament, thanks to the authorship of as many as seven reports of the European Parliament, on the new European Union enlargement strategy, reports on the future of relations between the European Union and the United States of America, regular reports on the progress of Montenegro, the pre-accession the financial instrument IPA III, as well as the topics of cohesion policy in the European Union, that is, the policy of harmonizing the regional development of the Union. Picula is also recognized for launching new initiatives related to the energy transition, which resulted in the launch of the Secretariat for the island's energy transition at the European level.
"The foreign policy of the European Union, as well as the green transition, will crucially shape the lives of all its citizens because today it includes the topics of security and defense, but also the energy transition and food production, which are crucial for the safety, health, and sustainability of the entire Union, as well as Croatia in it. I am honored by this formal recognition of my work by citizens and professional organizations in Brussels," said Picula.
The Influence Index, published annually by EUmatrix.eu, measures the influence that members of the European Parliament have had on European Union legislation since the beginning of the current mandate of the Parliament. This analysis is intended for public affairs professionals and citizens, in general, to understand the political complexity behind EU decision-making and identify the leading figures who shape legislation for more than 440 million citizens. MP influence is measured using a combination of criteria grouped into the following categories: formal and informal leadership positions, actual legislative work, political network, committee membership, and voting behavior. It is important to note that these reports are not normative assessments, that is, they are not intended to suggest that some MPs are "better" than others, but point to those MPs who, due to a combination of personal and environmental factors, found themselves in a position to influence EU policy.
